Promises Remembered

Part 2 Chapter 6

A/N Is this more cute stuff? Yes, yes it is. Is there plot if you squint? Yes, yes there is. Friday's chapter will be more plot, promise. 

Part 2 Chapter 6

Kakashi

Day three-hundred and ninety-five without her

The mission hadn't been difficult or dangerous. He had been—perhaps—a tad overly choosy with his missions lately. Kazuki was thirteen months old and Kakashi was trying to keep his promise.

His choosiness had gotten worse in the weeks before his son's birthday. The Hokage was growing increasingly irritated to have one of his best shinobi taking low level missions, but he hadn't said anything yet. He understood how Kakashi felt.

Still, Kakashi knew he'd only be able to get away with avoiding actual Jōnin ranked missions for so long. As it was, he was allowed to do as he wished so long as he took the longer, more tedious missions even appropriately ranked nin didn't want. This time he'd been gone for almost two weeks.

He was beginning to wonder if the extreme decreased risk was worth the time away. He was an extremely skilled and competent shinobi, after all. But then he'd think about his son growing up totally alone and he didn't know what to do.

With a soft grunt, Kakashi dropped down from the rooftops and landed in front of the Haruno's house. His hand reached to knock but the door swung open before his knuckles could connect. Mebuki smiled with relief, sighing heavily to see him.

"Oh thank goodness. I was starting to worry. He has missed you terribly, dear. And he's cutting two teeth at once. Poor little guy."

Following Mebuki into the house, he heard his son shriek, somewhere between pain and laughter. His chest tightened at the sound. Two weeks was a damn long time.

Sakura, home from the academy, was sitting with Kazuki, holding him up on his feet in front of herself. "That's right, Kazuki-chan! You can do it, can't you!" She blew a raspberry against his tear streaked cheek, eliciting another shriek of laughter.

"Oh look!" Noticing Kakashi standing in the room, she smiled and turned Kazuki towards him. "It's Daddy!"

Kazuki's little face lit up when he saw him, his arms reaching for him. "Nehhh Da Da Da!"

When Kakashi made to cross the room, Sakura held out a hand to stop him. "No, wait Kakashi-san. Stay there." She gestured for him to crouch. "Here, Kazuki-chan, show Daddy what you learned while he was gone!"

On unsteady legs, his son waddled across the short space to Kakashi's waiting arms. His throat constricted and his nose burned as he squeezed Kazuki tight. He'd only been gone two weeks, a length of time that before his son, before his Sakura, wouldn't have been anything to him. Now it felt like years. How much else had he missed?

"Da-Da Da-Da!" he was shrieking—this time undoubtedly happy shrieking—pressed against Kakashi's cheek, his little fingers catching on the top of his mask.

"I'm glad you're back, Kakashi-san. See you later, Kazuki-chan!" Having learned that Kakashi usually wouldn't take his mask down with others present, young Sakura smiled warmly down at them and left them alone.

Sighing, Kakashi tugged down his mask to kiss his son. "Hey, Buddy. I missed you." He pulled back to smile at him. Little hands pawed at his stubbled face as he continued to babble happily. "You just walked, Kazuki." Kakashi's light laughter stirred his fine pink hair. "I'm so proud of you, son." He kissed his cheek again and stood. "Ready to go home?"